Title: ICCR Welcomes Public Comment on Cosmetic Regulation

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will hold a public meeting on June 19, 2008, to receive input from the public on cosmetics regulation before the next ICCR steering committee meeting. The International Cooperation on Cosmetics Regulations (ICCR)—Preparation for ICCR Meetings in Washington, DC, will serve as a forum to provide information and receive comments on the ICCR as well as the upcoming meetings in Washington, DC.

"The purpose of the multilateral framework on the ICCR is to pave the way for the removal of regulatory obstacles to international trade while maintaining the highest level of global consumer protection," reports the FDA, in a press announcement. "ICCR is a voluntary international group of cosmetics regulatory authorities from the United States, Japan, the European Union and Canada. These regulatory authority members will enter into constructive dialogue with their relevant cosmetics' industry trade associations. Currently, the ICCR members are Health Canada; the European Commission Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry; the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan; and the US Food and Drug Administration."

The topics to be covered during the public meeting will reportedly be the same as those discussed at the ICCR steering committee meeting. The purpose of the preliminary meeting is to solicit public input prior to the next steering committee and expert working group meetings in Washington, DC, which will be held the week of July 28, 2008, and at which the action items from the first ICCR meeting will be discussed.

Registration information and requests to make a presentation must be received by June 16, 2008. The meeting will be held in Rockville, Md., USA. Written comments can be submitted to: The Divsion of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD 20852 USA. Similarly, electronic comments can be made at www.regulations.gov.

All decisions by the members of ICCR will be made by consensus and will be compatible with the laws, policies, rules, regulations and directives of the respective administrations and governments. Members will implement and/or promote actions or documents within their own jurisdictions and seek convergence of regulatory policies and practices. Successful implementation will require input from stakeholders.